Letter-box.



No. 65I,576. Patented lune I2, 1900. L. J. MESSIER & E. J. MERCURE.

L E TT E B B 0 X (Application led Aug., 21, 1899.)

(No Model.)

WTNESSS UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

LOUIS J. MESSIER AND EUCLIDk J. MERCURE, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSA- GHUSETTS.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of LetterssPatent No. 651,576, dated June 12, 1900. Application tiled August 2l, 1899. Serial No. 727,950. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIS J. MESSI'ER and EUCLID J. MERCURE, citizens of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, inthe county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in letter-boxes; and it has for its object, among others, to provide a simple and cheap device of this character so constructed that the mail may be deposited in the box with a single movement of one hand and not requiring the use of two hands, as heretofore. door, and a cap so connected lthat the movement of the one actuates the other. Means are provided for guiding the mail toward the front of the box, where it can be easily gotten at by the postman, and means are also provided for preventing the letters from getting back of the guiding means. Further means are provided for guarding against the ingress of rain or snow, and the device as a whole is capable of manufacture at' small cost, yet is durable and most eflicientfor the pu rposes for which it is intended.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined byV the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a front elevation of a letter-box constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same from front to rear with portions in elevation.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the box proper, which maybe of any suitable material, shape, and capacity. In this instance it is shown as substantially rectangular with a rounded top a, this being the conventional form; but such shape is not material.

B is the door through which access is had to the interior of the box to remove the mail- We provide a double closure, al

matter therein. It is hinged at the bottom, as at b, and is provided with the side pieces B', as usual, which move within the space between the sides of the box. At the upper edge this door is offset or rabbeted, as seen at b' in Fig. 2, to engage a corresponding oiset or rabbet to form a water-tightjoint. The front of the box is provided with the inclined ledge or shelf O at a point in proximity to this joint, as shown, and is designed for the purpose of shedding the water or snow, as will be readily understood. The side pieces 'B' at theirinner ends are provided with the projection or shoulder D, which serves as a stop to limit the outward movement of the door.

E isa plate in the back of the box, designed to guide the mail toward the front. It is hinged, as at e, anden the back wall of the box in proximity to this hinge is a projection or inwardly and downwardly inclined flange F, (seen clearly in Fig. 2,) which serves to prevent a letter from getting caught behind the upper end of the said plate or slide.

In the t'ront wall of the box are two openings, or, rather, one opening having two closures.

G is a door designed to close the lower portion of the opening, and H is a cap for closing the upper portion thereof. The top and bottom edges of thedoorand cap'areinclined, as seen in Fig. 2, and make a tight tit, yet allow of easy movement of the door and cap when desired. The cap is provided at its lower edge with a projecting flange or ledge h, which serves to shed the water from the joint between the door and cap, while on the front Wall of the box, above the topl edge of the cap, is another projection or ledge fi, which serves a similar function in connection with the joint between the upper edge of the cap and the opening in the wall of the boX.

The door G is carried by levers I, one at each side of the box, pivotally mounted between their ends upon pivots I', projecting from the opposite sides of the box. Thelower ends of the levers I are pivotally connected, as at j, with links J, the inner ends of which are pivotally connected to plates K, one at either side of the box, supported upon pivots L, projecting froml the sides of the box. These plates K, which are of semicircular IOO and pivotally seen red to the sides of the box: plates also pivotally secured: to the sides of the box and having link connections with said arms: said plates and cap oounterbalanoing the door, and said cap having an edge fiange overlapping the upper edge of the door.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS J. MESSIER. EUCLID J. MERCURE.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. MERRIAM, EDWARD T. SCULLY. 

